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By Neil Evans

Track down to Soft 7/Heavy 8, and rail true, for Showcase meeting on Cup day

We start Cup day over the testing journey, and Newcastle 6YO gelding 1. Urbino continues to pay back punters after all those second placings early in his Australian career. Won two from three this prep, each time working home strongly from midfield. More depth here, but still has superior staying scope than the rest.

Dangers: Port Macquarie mare 4. Zellymay has been threatening to win again for a while, and finished off okay in a BM 66 at Grafton. Been campaigning over further, and better suited back to this distance. Alot to like about the effort of local mare 5. Karlu Dreaming coming out of that same Grafton race when covering plenty of ground, yet was still only beaten under three lengths.

How to play it: Urbino to win and quinella 1 and 4. Odds and Evens: Split

Thin maiden at set weights augurs well for Newcastle mare 5. Poetry In Motion who has been very costly for punters, but gets winkers on for the first time. Was collared after leading at Port last start, but previous efforts showed she's better when ridden off the speed.

Dangers: Local 4YO 1. Shortaz has been placed in three of his last four mixing distances. Will roll forward from the inside gate and give a big sight; while Taree filly 8. Don't Tell Dion drops in weight and draws to get a soft run second-up. Include Coffs 3YO 3. Bonchevo if you are playing the trifecta and first four.

How to play it: Poetry In Motion to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Taree mare 3. Oh So Hot has been hitting the line well from off the speed this prep, winning a CL2 at Lismore two runs back before only fair in a stronger race at home. Needs a solid tempo, but will be strong late doing little or no early work from the inside draw.

Dangers: Taree 6YO 1. Party Host did his best work late resuming in the Krambach Sprint at Taree, although second-up form is poor; while Wyong 7YO 7. Sundayinmanhattan worked home okay resuming off a lengthy break in a BM 58 at Muswellbrook, and handles rain-affected going.

How to play it: Oh So Hot to win and box exacta 1,3,7. Odds and Evens: Odds

Despite drawing the outside barrier, 3YO Wyong filly 7. Black Jacamar can break through at her second start. Kept finding on debut in a deeper maiden at Taree, and just needs even luck in transit to be the one to beat.

Dangers: Keep safe ex-Victorian 4YO 1. Bilbao having his first run for a new Port Macquarie stable, with multiple gear changes. No recent public trials, but was heavily backed first-up this time last year, and gets 3kg off. Newcastle 5YO 2. Little Archie resumes with a hefty weight, but narrowly won a recent Gosford trial; while expecting sharp improvement second-up from Wauchope 3YO 3. Off To Gilli who covered plenty of ground on debut in heavy going, and drops back in trip.

How to play it: Black Jacamar to win. Odds and Evens: Odds

Black Jacamar runs second at Taree on October 16

The Kris Lees stable seemingly has a throttle hold on this headed by improving 3YO filly 4. Meydan Lass who can peak fourth-up, with the blinkers added. Has been close-up in all three runs this prep, and one of the best weighted runners all day after the claim.

Dangers: Stablemate filly 12. Tawfiq Lass worked home nicely on debut, despite being soft in betting, and more distance is a natural plus. Taree 3YO 1. Four Egos loves to settle back and hit the line. Has been placed five times from six starts, but will have to do it from the outside gate. Taree filly 8. Luck Aplenty was okay late in a handy maiden at only her second start, and blinkers also go on.

How to play it: Meydan Lass to win. Odds and Evens: Evens

Open sprint, with plenty of chances, and by this stage the pattern may have a big say. Progressive Taree 4YO 2. Standing Bear was very good first-up for a new stable off a lengthy break surging home to win his maiden at Port. Draws to get a lovely trail, and is bred to handle soft ground if the track goes that way.

Dangers: Local mare 7. Bear The Crown chased a home a smart sprinter third-up off a break, although not well treated at the weights. Taree 8YO mare 1. Lobban Hood has found a new lease of life deep into this prep powering down the middle to win a similar race at Port, although climbing back up in the weights.

How to play it: Standing Bear to win. Odds and Evens: Split

Standing Bear wins at Port Macquarie on October 9

Now for the feature, and there are many hopes, most coming through the same formline. Talented Taree 6YO 5. Editors has been sparingly raced this prep, and can peak again fourth-up back in distance, and three weeks between runs. Flew home to win a BM 66 here first-up, and was charging home again in the BM 84 Krambach Cup at Taree last start.

Dangers: Cessnock 5YO 3. Asudem was rock solid in the market working home nicely in the Krambach Sprint, and ready for the extra trip fourth-up. Port 5YO 1. Chamisal won the Krambach Cup finishing too well from just off the speed, but handicapper hasn't missed him rising 5kg. Port 6YO 7. Mister Smartee is hard fit, and was also right in the blanket finish of that Krambach Cup. Boasts solid wet track form. Tough Wyong 7YO 4. Mo The Great rarely runs a bad one, and was right behind the place-getters resuming in the Jungle Juice Cup at Newcastle.

How to play it: Editors each way and trifecta: 1,3,5/1,3,4,5,7/1,3,4,5,7. Odds and Evens: Odds

We close the card with a competitive sprint. Progressive Coffs mare 2. Gangika swept home for a dominant win second-up at Lismore, and took on smarter metro opposition in autumn. Handles all ground, and only needs to slot in from an awkward draw to be the one to beat.

Dangers: Have little doubt Newcastle 4YO 8. Star Raider has the most ability all being equal, but won't want it slipping into soft range too far. Draws to get a good trail, with the blinkers added, and hit the line well in a deeper race at Scone last start. Tough Taree 5YO 1. Fair Dinkum exploded home to win this grade two runs back before flat at Lismore, but always better ridden from further back and has a handy record at this track. Grafton 6YO 6. Tobasco won three straight at BM 58 level before only run down in the last few strides stepping up to this grade at Ballina.

How to play it: Gangika to win and box exacta 1,2,8. Odds and Evens: Evens

All the fields, form and replays for Friday's Kempsey Cup meeting